Arun Govil, who became a household name as Lord Rama in the 1980s TV classic ‘Ramayan’, has opened up about joining Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ as King Dashrath. In a recent chat, the veteran actor admitted he was not keen on the part at first and also reacted to comparisons between his Rama and Ranbir Kapoor’s.
Why did Arun Govil say yes to playing Dashrath in ‘Ramayana’
When Nitesh Tiwari announced ‘Ramayana’ four years ago, comparisons with Ramanand Sagar’s 80s series were certain. That show is still counted among the most-watched Indian TV programmes ever and set the standard for retelling the epic. Casting Arun Govil as Dashrath was a smart link between the two versions.Speaking to Variety India, Arun Govil said, “Had I felt it wasn’t right, I would not have done it. To be honest, initially, I didn’t want to do this role. But Nitesh Tiwari, the director, was insistent. They wanted some connect between our Ramayan and this Ramayana.”
Arun Govil on comparisons with Ranbir Kapoor
The film has earned strong reviews and has collected over Rs 660 crore worldwide in five days, making it one of the biggest openings for an Indian film. Ranbir Kapoor’s work as Lord Rama has been appreciated, but some viewers have still preferred Govil’s portrayal.Responding to this, Arun Govil said, “That perhaps is also because my performance as Lord Rama became the touchstone. It is still alive in the hearts and minds of people. Nobody wants to see another Rama. You know, my Ramayan keeps playing somewhere or the other at any given time. Even today in North and Central India, whenever there are melas and tamashas and photos of Rama are sold, they have my face on them. So, for me, to talk about an actor’s performance as Lord Rama doesn’t feel right.”
About the film and cast
‘Ramayana’ is backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, along with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. It is the first instalment of a two-part story. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi is Sita, Yash plays Ravana, and Ravie Dubey is seen as Lakshman. The first part is now in cinemas, while the second is slated to arrive in 2028.
The original ‘Ramayan’ cast
The 1987-88 Doordarshan series featured Govil as Lord Rama, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita, Arvind Trivedi as Ravana and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman. It drew record viewership throughout its run.
